Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: POST TIME. Post Time added to his Laurel Park legend on Saturday with a victory in the Deputed Testamony Stakes. Off a third-place finish in the Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs last out, he went off as the 1-10 favorite in the five-horse field, and drafted off of slow early fractions set by Speedyness. In the stretch, Sheldon Russell sent him between Speedyness and Offaly Cool, and got by to win by 3 ½ lengths. He improved to 9-for-9 at Laurel and 11-for-18 lifetime, and hasn’t missed the board in any of his races. The reigning Maryland-bred Horse of the Year improved his career earnings to 1,363,600. He’s owned by Ellen Charles’s Hillwood Stable LLC and trained by Brittany Russell.

SECOND STAR: SUBROGATE. Later in the day, a field of four met in the Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash. It was a competitive betting race, with all four going off between 8-5 and 5-2. Subrogate, the favorite, prevailed by a length, wearing down early leader Celtic Contender in the final strides. He ran six furlongs in 1.10.53 for his fifth lifetime win in 10 starts, and his first win of the year in two attempts. He showed promise at both 3 and 4, ultimately sidelined in both years, but finally got his first stakes win as a 5-year-olds. He’s owned by Colts Neck Stables LLC, trained by Jorge Duarte, and ridden by Horacio Karamanos. 

THIRD STAR: WOLFIE’S DYNAGHOST. Another horse second off the layoff scored earlier on the Laurel Saturday card in the Prince George’s County Stakes. Wolfie’s Dynaghost, who broke slowly and was little factor in his 2025 debut at Woodbine last out, wired the field by 4 ½ lengths under Sheldon Russell. Sent off at 6-1, he opened up a two-length early lead through early fractions of 24.08 and 48.02, and was unable to be caught from there. He’s a four-time stakes winner in his 28-race career with earnings just shy of 1 million. Jonathan Thomas trains this Woodslane Farm homebred.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: POST TIME. Added yet another Laurel Stakes win to his resume.

SECOND STAR: SUBROGATE. Might this be the year he lives up to his potential?

THIRD STAR: WOLFIE’S DYNAGHOST. An excellent front-end ride propelled him to victory.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: XCELLENT START. Made it three in a row on Saturday with a come-from-behind second-level win over a salty field.

SECOND STAR: BIG BAD BRASS. Also completed a natural hat trick, and got his fourth win in his last five races, with a starter optional claiming win on Thursday.

THIRD STAR: ARNALDO BOCACHICA. Big Bad Brass was one of three winners for Bocachica on Thursday, and six on the week.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: MARTIN CHUAN. Rode home three winners on Saturday, including a pair for Jamie Ness.

SECOND STAR: SHOOTERSGOTTASHOOT. Fought hard and crossed the wire second in an exciting first-level sprint on Friday; he was elevated to victory via DQ.

THIRD STAR: LITTLE CRYBABY. Beat a starter optional claiming field on Thursday with a dramatic late rally, for her third win in her last four races.

Monmouth Park

FIRST STARS: NOT TOO LATE AND SONNY LEON. The filly rallied to win Sunday’s Maryfield Stakes in a 10-1 upset; in the process, Sonny Leon got his 1,000th career win.

SECOND STAR: SIGH NO MORE. Once she found room, she accelerated through to win the Boiling Springs takes earlier on the Sunday card.

THIRD STAR: TOM’S MAGIC. Rated off the pace and converted to win Saturday’s Tale of the Cat Stakes as the 7-10 favorite.

Parx Racing

Racing at Parx was cancelled last week due to excessive heat.